If bogus stock story is worst oppo on Price, he's a lock for confirmation at HHS
— Jonathan H. Adler (@jadler1969) January 17, 2017
As you might have heard, CNN was out with a story on Monday suggesting Rep. Tom Price, Donald Trump’s nominee to head Health and Human Services, bought stock in a medical device company weeks before then championing legislation that would help said company:
First on CNN: Trump HHS nominee Tom Price invested in a medical device company, then introduced a bill to help it https://t.co/NomCSecZW0 pic.twitter.com/AlYVQdf2MV
— CNN (@CNN) January 16, 2017
Except, that’s not exactly what happened according to Ellen Carmichael, who used to work for Rep. Price and is now the president of The Lafayette Company.
First up, Price was allegedly not responsible for any of the trades in the “broker-directed” account:
Good morning, all. Who's ready to see the Price CNN story debunked from start to finish? Here we go… (1/x)
— Ellen L. Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) January 17, 2017
.@RepTomPrice has a Morgan Stanley brokered-directed stock portfolio. He is not personally engaged in trades made on his behalf. (2/x)
— Ellen L. Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) January 17, 2017
And the amount of money we’re talking about here is less than $2700:
In March 2016, his broker rebalanced his portfolio and included the purchase of $2,697.74 Zimmer Biomet stock, among others. (3/x)
— Ellen L. Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) January 17, 2017
Which Rep. Price did disclose:
Price was unaware of March 17 stock purchase until April 4. He immediately disclosed his financials on April 15, 2016, 11 days later. (4/x)
— Ellen L. Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) January 17, 2017
It also seems that CNN”s timeline is wrong and that Price was working on this legislation long before the stock purchase in question:
CNN says that @RepTomPrice introduced legislation after purchasing stock. This is demonstrably false. Work on this began in 2015! (5/x)
— Ellen L. Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) January 17, 2017
Purchase on his behalf occurred 3/17/16. Dear Colleague letter in opposition to CMS provision sent 9/21/15. CNN's timeline is WRONG. (6/x) pic.twitter.com/uATaEpZug2
— Ellen L. Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) January 17, 2017
Over to you, CNN:
This is journalistic malpractice. Timeline is wrong. Price doesn't have any direct control over his portfolio. Entire thing is a lie. (7/x)
— Ellen L. Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) January 17, 2017
Carmichael went on to vouch for Price’s character, calling him “as far from corrupt as you can be”:
As someone who worked for Dr. Price, I'm physically sickened by this dishonest narrative about a man as far from corrupt as you can be (8/x)
— Ellen L. Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) January 17, 2017
I get "this is politics," but to watch media so happily carry water for Dems who have said he's the only nominee they'll oppose… (9/x)
— Ellen L. Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) January 17, 2017
…is absolutely disgusting. Price has served in House since 2005, and these people should know better than to believe he's corrupt. (10/x)
— Ellen L. Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) January 17, 2017
I've watched so much of his kindness, charity and ethics in person for so long. This isn't "politics." It's character assassination. (11/x)
— Ellen L. Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) January 17, 2017
They can't beat him on ideas, experience or character, so they fabricate an entire corruption narrative the facts don't support (12/x)
— Ellen L. Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) January 17, 2017
And they're lucky he's not the kind of person to them that they are to him. He's not spiteful, angry or mean. But he should be here. (13/x)
— Ellen L. Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) January 17, 2017
After working for him and knowing him so long, I will vouch for @RepTomPrice's character to anyone at any time. This is shameful. (14/14)
— Ellen L. Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) January 17, 2017
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